I do have my beetle 1302 at Cairo, Egypt. Thanks a lot ! , I understood what is tie bars. but I have some explanations, may I: 1) Do I have to change the all six ball joints ? Just the two for each side rod are enough, or in addition to two joints of central rod too? 2) Are all ball joints of same shape and size too? 3) If I reused the three old rods it self again with the new six joints will them be safe and reliable too for car driving? Best regards
Hi Akmal! What you're calling "ball joints" are what in the US we call "tie rod ends". As you said, the side tie rods have separate tie rod ends that can be replaced. However, the tie rod ends in the center tie rod are part of the tie rod. They cannot be replaced; the whole tie rod has to be replaced. You can see the very loose tie rod end on my center tie rod at 0:56 in this video. There are two different tie rod ends for the side tie rods. They have a "left hand thread" and a "right hand thread". Replace the center tie rod, or the tie rod ends if they are loose. You'll know there's a problem if it vibrates (shakes) at certain speeds. If it doesn't vibrate, and the tie rod ends are tight, then you don't have to replace them. I replaced all those components because my car would shake very badly from 35 miles per hour to 50 miles per hour. By the way, there are ball joints in the suspension. There is one on each side. The ball joint is at the bottom of the picture at 3:19 in this video. Good luck with your car!
I'm sure there's a torque spec, but I don't know that I ever knew it. Since they're a major structural component, critical to the car's safety, I got them as tight as I reasonably could with hand wrenches. I'll try to look it up.
I do have my beetle 1302 at Cairo, Egypt. Thanks a lot ! , I understood what is tie bars. but I have some explanations, may I:
1) Do I have to change the all six ball joints ? Just the two for each side rod are enough, or in addition to two joints of central rod too?
2) Are all ball joints of same shape and size too?
3) If I reused the three old rods it self again with the new six joints will them be safe and reliable too for car driving?
Best regards
Hi Akmal!
What you're calling "ball joints" are what in the US we call "tie rod ends".
As you said, the side tie rods have separate tie rod ends that can be replaced. However, the tie rod ends in the center tie rod are part of the tie rod. They cannot be replaced; the whole tie rod has to be replaced. You can see the very loose tie rod end on my center tie rod at 0:56 in this video.
There are two different tie rod ends for the side tie rods. They have a "left hand thread" and a "right hand thread".
Replace the center tie rod, or the tie rod ends if they are loose. You'll know there's a problem if it vibrates (shakes) at certain speeds. If it doesn't vibrate, and the tie rod ends are tight, then you don't have to replace them. I replaced all those components because my car would shake very badly from 35 miles per hour to 50 miles per hour.
By the way, there are ball joints in the suspension. There is one on each side. The ball joint is at the bottom of the picture at 3:19 in this video.
Good luck with your car!
Many thanks you explain me very valuable information so I will follow your steps. I would like to hold your hand to thank you. Best Regards. @@fsodn
What are the torque specs on the tie rod nuts
I'm sure there's a torque spec, but I don't know that I ever knew it. Since they're a major structural component, critical to the car's safety, I got them as tight as I reasonably could with hand wrenches. I'll try to look it up.